How much time did you spend reading this past year? Have you wondered how your reading habits compare to those across the world?
In 2018, India, Thailand, and China spent the most time reading. Indians, in fact, read almost twice as much as Americans and Canadians. Americans are still consuming books in healthy numbers though – 67% read a print book and 18% listened to an audiobook.
Europeans, however, are big spenders when it comes to buying books. They spent $240 per person on books and newspapers, which is more they spent on packaged holidays! In Europe, Estonia reads the most each day, while France reads the least. Estonians also own the most books.
Considering how reading is incredibly healthy for your mind and body, it is generally a good investment to put aside some time for reading.
But you don’t have a lot of time to read?
Pick out an interesting book, and take it with you everywhere you go. If you commute to work, you can open your book and dive in. Waiting for an appointment? Lunch break? What about after dinner, or before your bedtime? A little time here and there will add up and you will reap the benefits!
If you are a writer, you will know that one of the best things to do to improve your writing is to read. Stephen King writes:
“If you don’t have time to read, you don’t have the time (or the tools) to write. Simple as that.”
Some of the most exciting books of 2018 include Fire and Fury: Inside the Trump White House by Michael Wolff, which is popular worldwide, and Becoming by Michelle Obama, which was the most popular book in France, Spain, Denmark, Norway, Finland and Greece. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling are still well in demand, and Australian libraries cannot seem to keep these on their shelves for long.
What book will you read next?
Take a look at this great new infographic by Global English Editing to learn more about world reading habits in 2018.
I’ve been going through a novella phase and I’ll probably keep this habit up in 2019. I’ve found that there are some very good foreign language novellas out there (which I read in translation, as English is unfortunately the only language I read fluently). As for non-fiction, there’s a book called Educated, by Tara Westover, that Bill Gates has recommended, though I need to find out if it’s available here in the UK.